Update for families with children at St Gabriel's Primary School and Nursery - 29 November 2024
Dear parents and carers
SGN's engineering teams are continuing investigations regarding the continued gas readings which are being registered. Safety is everyone's number one priority. SGN is working as quickly and safely as possible, and will remain on site until all required repairs to its network are made and there are no further gas readings.
To avoid further disruption and uncertainty for you, and to ensure this work can be done properly, we have put in place arrangements for children from P1 to P7 to be accommodated in other locations on Monday.
Unfortunately nursery remains closed on Monday 2 December.
Teachers and other school staff have been busy preparing and making all the necessary arrangements for this today, to make the experience as settled and productive as possible for the children. Please find details of these arrangements below:
P1/2, P3 and P4 will learn at the Pennypit Centre on Monday. They should arrive at the Pennypit at our usual starting time of 8:45am where they will be met by their teachers. All children will have packed lunches provided by our catering service at the Pennypit and parents/carers do not need to order their lunch on that day through Schoolpay.
P5 will learn at Preston Tower Primary School Upper Campus (Preston Road) on Monday. They should arrive at Preston Tower Primary School at our usual starting time of 8:45am where they will be met by their teachers. Those who are entitled to a free school meal will access this as usual at Preston Tower. Parents/carers should order through Schoolpay as normal, and this will be communicated to the kitchen in Preston Tower. There will be no facility to order in class.
P6 and P7 will learn at Cockenzie Primary School. They should arrive at Preston Tower Primary School at our usual starting time of 8:45am where they will be met by their teachers. They will then be transported by bus to Cockenzie Primary School at 9:15am and will be back at Preston Tower for approximately 3:15pm. Those who are entitled to a free school meal will access this as usual at Cockenzie. Parents/carers should order through Schoolpay as normal, and this will be communicated to the kitchen in Cockenzie. There will be no facility to order in class.
Can parents and carers of P5, P6 and P7 children please inform us by email at admin@st-gabriels.elcschool.org.uk or by calling 07787514125 whether their child will be collected or whether they are permitted to walk home unaccompanied from Preston Tower Primary School? If we do not hear from you, we will keep your child at Preston Tower Primary School until you pick them up. It would greatly assist drop off and pick up at Preston Tower Primary School Upper Campus (Preston Road) if parents can stand across the road from the main entrance at the wall and teachers will bring pupils to you, this is normal practice at the school. Please do not add to the traffic congestion by trying to park near Preston Road, please walk from your normal parking arrangement for St. Gabriel’s Primary School at drop off and pick up. Families dropping off at the Pennypit are able to use the British Legion car park. Again, please park responsibly.
If you are collecting children from two sites, you can collect your P1 to P4 child from the Pennypit from 2:55pm. We would appreciate if you would tell a member of staff at drop-off if you are considering this.
We realise that these arrangements can be unsettling for your child, however, are also mindful that we want them to be in school when possible and have worked hard to ensure they will have a great experience. We would like to reassure you our teachers and staff from St Gabriel’s will have responsibility for children at all times and therefore your child will be with adults who know them and understand their needs. We look forward to welcoming your child on Monday.
If you have any questions, please contact us by admin@st-gabriels.elcschool.org.uk or by calling 07787514125. This phone number will only be available from Monday from 8:00am.
Kind regards
Alex Buchanan, Head Teacher